The amazing cast and producers of Making Treaty 7 after their Feb. 23 performance.

Third-year science student Kayla Lavallee is the first recipient of the Métis Elder Marge Friedel Award.

Jesse Cardinal is concerned that the province’s approach to water discussion is an indication that the government already has a plan in place that will see water made accessible to industry and water licence holders at the expense of First Nations.

If Bill C-27, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, becomes law the Sawridge First Nation has given notice it will take legal action.

Chief Roland Twinn told the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on Feb. 12 that the bill was in conflict with Sect. 52 of the Constitution Act, which states that any law contradicting the Constitution is invalid.

“If it comes down to it, we will take it to court,” said Twinn.
Twinn, who serves as Grand Chief of Treaty 8, also told the committee that Bill C-27 will not result in better governance by First Nations.

A non-treaty First Nation would like to see the Calgary Stampede acknowledge the contributions of the Cree in the development of southern Alberta.

Joe Fromhold, CEO with the Asini Wachi Nehiwawak Mountain Cree band, says the Cree have as a rich history in the south as does the Blackfoot, which are embraced fully by the Calgary Stampede.

“(The Calgary Stampede) is putting up a…display that gives a short history of the Blackfoot … and we would like them to have included something about the Mountain Cree or the Cree in general and they absolutely refuse,” said Fromhold.

Alberta First Nations were more than faces in the 45,000 strong that rallied on the Mall in Washington on Feb. 17. They were also voices heard by American politicians.

“It was certainly worth our going,” said Melina Laboucan-Massimo, climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Canada.

The newest Chief for the Lubicon Lake Nation is expecting his election victory to be challenged in federal court.

“We’re expecting appeals or some kind of court challenge,” said Billy Joe Laboucan, who was acclaimed Chief in a Feb. 15 election.  Five councillors were chosen by secret ballot – the first time an election has not been by a show of hands – with nine candidates running for the positions.

Laboucan has been recognized by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada as the new chief. The federal government has not recognized a Lubicon Chief since 2009.

The answer that brought Tom Flanagan’s career to a skidding halt was unintentional, but the question was part of a larger strategy.
“It was kind of planned, but we didn’t know what to expect going into this….He’s coming to our community and we can’t not doing anythind,” said Arnell Tailfeathers, who posted on YouTube Flanagan’s response to a question about child pornography. The resulting furor has arguably ended Flanagan’s career as a policy advisor, educator and media commentator.